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North Cascade Loop: 12-Day Plan You Can Actually Drive
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The 12-day version for July: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight. Prefer more or fewer days? 4-day plan · 5-day plan · 6-day plan · 12-day plan · best time to go.
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💡 Good to know for this plan
- ~15.4 hours of daylight in July.
- The strongest full-loop window, but wildfire, rockfall, snow and road works can still close SR 20 or park areas. Check WSDOT and North Cascades National Park before crossing the mountains.
Before you go · check live details
This is a planning draft. Check these changing details for your dates before booking or travelling.
Some route advice is currently available in English.
- Confirm that SR 20 and the planned park stops are open
Check WSDOT for the North Cascades Highway through Washington and Rainy passes, then check NPS road, trail and fire alerts. Do not use this full-loop plan if the through road or a required park stop is closed.
Check source ↗
Day 1 Seattle
- Transit
- 0h36
- Finish
- ~16:05
- Temperature
- 13.1°C–23.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~3
- Daylight
- 15.4h
Day 2 Around Seattle
- Temperature
- 13.1°C–23.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~3
- Daylight
- 15.4h
Spend an unhurried day in Seattle with historic streets, local art and public squares, or take time to rest. Choose what suits you and allow time to return to your confirmed stay. Check access, weather and opening hours; guided outings and other provider activities need separate arrangements.
Time to spare on this day
Optional activities to explore separately. Nothing is booked.
Day 3 Around Seattle
- Temperature
- 13.1°C–23.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~3
- Daylight
- 15.4h
Spend an unhurried day in Seattle with historic streets, local art and public squares, or take time to rest. Choose what suits you and allow time to return to your confirmed stay. Check access, weather and opening hours; guided outings and other provider activities need separate arrangements.
Time to spare on this day
Optional activities to explore separately. Nothing is booked.
Day 4 Leavenworth
- Transit
- 3h46
- Finish
- ~16:35
- Temperature
- 10.1°C–24.8°C
- Rainy days
- ~2
- Daylight
- 15.4h
Day 5 Around Leavenworth
- Temperature
- 10.1°C–24.8°C
- Rainy days
- ~2
- Daylight
- 15.4h
Spend an unhurried day in Leavenworth with riverfront paths, public viewpoints and local heritage, or take time to rest. Choose what suits you and allow time to return to your confirmed stay. Check access, weather and opening hours; guided outings and other provider activities need separate arrangements.
Time to spare on this day
Optional activities to explore separately. Nothing is booked.
Day 6 Around Leavenworth
- Transit
- 0h51
- Finish
- ~16:45
- Temperature
- 10.1°C–24.8°C
- Rainy days
- ~2
- Daylight
- 15.4h
Day 7 Winthrop & Methow Valley
- Transit
- 3h32
- Finish
- ~14:05
- Temperature
- 9.6°C–24.4°C
- Rainy days
- ~2
- Daylight
- 15.5h
Day 8 Around Winthrop & Methow Valley
- Temperature
- 9.6°C–24.4°C
- Rainy days
- ~2
- Daylight
- 15.5h
Spend an unhurried day in Winthrop with village streets, public mountain views and time to rest, or take time to rest. Choose what suits you and allow time to return to your confirmed stay. Check access, weather and opening hours; guided outings and other provider activities need separate arrangements.
Time to spare on this day
Optional activities to explore separately. Nothing is booked.
Day 9 North Cascades Highway
- Transit
- 2h16
- Finish
- ~13:25
- Temperature
- 8.1°C–18.8°C
- Rainy days
- ~5
- Daylight
- 15.6h
Day 10 Around North Cascades Highway
- Temperature
- 8.1°C–18.8°C
- Rainy days
- ~5
- Daylight
- 15.6h
Spend an unhurried day in Confirmed public-road North Cascades base with open public paths, public viewpoints and quiet time in nature, or take time to rest. Choose what suits you and allow time to return to your confirmed stay. Check access, weather and opening hours; guided outings and other provider activities need separate arrangements.
Time to spare on this day
Optional activities to explore separately. Nothing is booked.
Day 11 Around North Cascades Highway
- Temperature
- 8.1°C–18.8°C
- Rainy days
- ~5
- Daylight
- 15.6h
Spend an unhurried day in Confirmed public-road North Cascades base with open public paths, public viewpoints and quiet time in nature, or take time to rest. Choose what suits you and allow time to return to your confirmed stay. Check access, weather and opening hours; guided outings and other provider activities need separate arrangements.
Time to spare on this day
Optional activities to explore separately. Nothing is booked.
Day 12 North Cascades Highway → Seattle
- Transit
- 4h24
- Finish
- ~16:25
- Temperature
- 8.1°C–18.8°C
- Rainy days
- ~5
- Daylight
- 15.6h
🔍 Check before you book
Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.
Sources (6)
- Wikivoyage — Seattle/DowntownCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Wikivoyage — Seattle/Sodo-GeorgetownCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Wikivoyage — Seattle/Queen Anne-South Lake UnionCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Wikivoyage — Leavenworth (Washington)CC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Wikivoyage — Winthrop (Washington)CC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Wikivoyage — North Cascades National ParkCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)